Degreasing apparatus



Dec. 14, 1937. c, F, D|NLEY v2,101,841

' DEGREASING APPARATUS Filed Fb. '7, 19:55 l 4 sheets-sheet 2 W1 TNESSES:

De.14,1`937. @F.DINLE# l 2,101,841A

DEGREASING APPARATUS ToRNEYs.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES DEGREASING APPARATUS Clarence F. Dinley, Detroit, ,Micl1., assigner to James H. Bell, Philadelphia, Pa.

ApplicationrFebruar'y 7, 1935, Serial No. 5,385

'a claimt4 (crau-e) My invention relates to treatment with solvents ior such purposes as cleaning and degreasing, and to the use of volatile solvents. It is useful for cleaning metal parts or objects preparatory to electroplating, enamelling, painting,

and other nishing operations, and is especially adapted and advantageous for treating large quantities oi small articles in bulk. Various solvents whose vaporszare heavier than air may be used, such as benzine; benzol; and chlorinated solvents like carbon tetrachloride, trichloro` methane, dichlorethane, tetrachlorethane, trichlorethylene, and tetrachlorethylene, whose vapors are uninilarnmable. The work may be treated with the liquidlsolvent or with the solvent vapor, 'or both; and in some cases, treatment in boiling liquid solvent is desirable. In suitable forms of embodiment, such as hereinafter described, my invention affords a compact 'and efiicient machine, semi-automatic in operation, wherein large quantities of work can be rapidly, thoroughly, and economically cleaned, with small labor cost and little loss of. solvent. Various other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinafter of species thereof, and from the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. I is aside view of one preferred form of apparatus suitable for the purposes of my inven- .30 tion, mainly in vertical section as indicatedby the line and arrows I-I in Fig. II.

Fig. II is a side or end view from the right of Fig. I, with various parts in vertical section as indicated by the line vand arrows II-II in Fig. I. Fig. III is a view l'similar to Fig. I, illustrating a somewhat dierent form of apparatus.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary view of the treating vessel and the revolving tumbling vessel of Fig. III, from the right of that iigure, the treating vessel being in vertical section, and a portion of the tumbling vessel being broken out.

The apparatus shown in Figs. I and 1I comprises a sheet metal treating vessel or enclosure I0 that contains the solvent, whether used as liquid cr as vapor, and is closed to exclude air and retainany Ysolventyeipor that maybe present,-purposey or incidentally,-but is prefer ably open upward for the introduction and Yremoval of work. In general, work is treated with liquid or vaporous solvent (or both) in the'lower part of the vessel I0, while its upper portion serves mainly to prevent or minimize loss Aof solvent vapor from' the vessel, especially in drylike gasoline or benzine; or when the work is 'immersed in the solvent whileitself still hot-` or warm; or when the solvent is used hot or even boiled during' use; or when the solvent is purposely used in the vapor stategor when the work 6 is allowed to drain or dry in the upper portion y of the vessel after treatment with the solvent;- in all such cases, solvent vapor will be present, and will tend to accumulate to theipoint of overowing over the upper edge of the vessel I0. 10 As here shown, the vessel I0,is provided with heating means, such as a steam coil II near its bottom, for heating, vaporizin'g, or even boiling the liquid solvent in the vessel. The escape of solvent vapor thus or otherwise present inthe 15 vessel I0 maybe prevented by suitable upward extension -of its walls, and by condensation ofv the vapor from the upper part of the vessel. The lowermost portion of the vessel I0 (that contains the heating means Il) may be narrowed or con- 20 tracted, on a slope I2 downward and inward from either side, as best shown in Fig. II.

For treating the work in the vessel I0, there is shown a. container or drum I3, preferably foraminous .at least in part, andpreferably 25 arranged to revolve and tumble the work. This is particularly useful for vtreating lquantities, of small articles at once,since by tumbling the articles in contact with the solvent, they can be thoroughly cleaned all over much more rapidly 30 'Y than if they were dealt with singly, and at much. lower cos't. The drum or tumbling barrel I3 is shown as frustro-conical, with the smallervend np. It is revolubly mounted on a vsupporting structure in the form of an arm I5, that can be 35 Aswung downand up, into and out of the vessel I0, about a (horizontal) axis at or near the top of. the vessel, at one end thereof; and its axis of revolution extends transversely to the 'axis of y As shown, the arm I5 has-(hollow) 40 vented by a collar 2| keyed fast to the lower end of the spindle. When the arm I5. is in its ex- 50 treme lower position at the left-hand end of the vessel I6, as in Fig. I, the axis of revolution ofl the drum I 3 (represented by the spindle I9) is inclined upward `to the right, as at about a 30 angle to the horizontal. As the drum or barrel I3 revolves in lowered position, work in the barrel gravitates and tumbles against its Vbottom end.

While the `arm I5 and vdrum I3 may be swung up land down by taking hold of the arm with the hand, or in any other suitable way, a more convenient mechanical means for doing this is shown. Outside the vessel Il, at the left of vFig. I, .is a hand and crank wheel 22 on the outer end of a short (horizontal) shaft 23 which can revolve in a bearing bracket 24 'mounted on the vessel wall (Fig. I), and extends in through the wall below the right-hand trunnion I6A (Fig. II). The shaft 23 may be connected to the arm I5 by any suitable means, here shown as a worm 25 on the inner end of the shaft in mesh with a worm wheel 25 keyed fast on the right-hand trunnion I6. By turning the wheel 22 one way or the other, the arm I5 and drum axis I3 may be swung up through asubstantial angle, even as much as 180 or more, from its position shown in Fig. I (as far as permitted by the upper edge of the vessel -III at the left) or returned downward to the position of Fig. I.

'I'he drum I3 may be driven and revolved by any desired means, such for example, as a suitably driven bevel pinion 21 meshing with a bevel gear 23 formed on the rim of the spider I3. As shown in Figs. I and II, the pinion- 21 is keyed faston the lower end of a shaft 33 mounted to revolve in bearings 3I', 3I on the arm I5, and

, having 'another bevel pinion 32 keyed fast on its upper end. This pinion 32 meshes with a bevel pinion 33 keyed fast on a. (horizontal) drive shaft 34 revolving coaxiallywith the trunnions I6, IS, which are hollow and are provided with drivenby the motor 35 when in its lowermost position shown in Fig. I, or when swung up 180 or more over the (left-hand) upper edge of the vessel I0, or when merely swung up into the upper part of the -vessel without raising the work -above the upper edge,-or, indeed, in any position within its extreme range of movement. Also, the drumrl3 can be swung up or down, as desired, while revolving, as well as when stationary.

Condensation of vapor from the upper portion of the vessel I0 may be effected by the external atmospheric cooling of the walls, -if they are of sufficient height; though generally it is preferable tosupplement or (largely) replace atmospheric cooling with more eifective cooling means, s0 that the vessel I0 need not be so deep as mere atmospheric cooling wouldrequire. The particular type and arrangement of cooling meanswhether internal or external, and whether o'n one side, two or more sides, or all around the vessel Ill-is broadly immaterial, except that the greater the extent of the cooling m'eans perimetrically ofthe vessel, the' less its extent vertically need be-to give adequate exposed cooling area. The solvent vapor, being heavier than air, will always iiow by gravity toward the region or area where it is most rapidly cooled and condensed-lust as if there werean actual outlet for the vapor at such region. As here shown, the upper' vessel walls are (externally) waterjacketed at 40 all the way around a zone which is considerably above the bottom of the vessel and also a good deal below its top. 'Ihe -jacket 40 has an inlet 4I for water or other cooling medium at its lower edge on one end of the vsel II), and an outlet 42 at its upper edge on the other end of the vessel. The pure liquid solvent condensed on the vessel walls by the cooling jacket 40 runs down into a trough 43, preferably extending all around the vessel. As shown in Fig. I, the bottom of the trough 43 slopes downward from the right-hand end of the vessel toward its left-hand end. When the work in the .drum I3 is to bev cleaned in the main body of liquid solvent in the bottom of the vessel I0, or when it is to be treated only with solvent vapor, the condensate may be allowed to overflow the upper edge ofthe trough 43 and run down into the main body of liquid in the vessel. When, however, it is desired to treat the work in the drum I3 with a pure liquid conden' sate, the latter may be delivered from the trough 43 directly into the drum I3 upon the work therein. For this purpose, there is shown in Figs. I and II a short spout or nipple of pipe 4l connected through the side of the trough 43 at the left-hand side of the vessel and projecting over the upper edge of a conduit (trough) 45 with which the swinging arm I5 is provided. The lower end of the conduit 46 has a lip 41 that closely overlies a frusto-conical flange 43 on the bottom wall 49 of the drum I3. Inside this flange 48, the drum bottom 49 is foraminous or perforated to admit the solvent from conduit 46 freely;v but the portion of the drum bottom 43 ontside the ilang'e 48 and the lower portion of the peripheral drum wall may preferably be solid, to retain a pool of the solvent about to the level `shown in Fig. I. Above this level, the peripheral drum wall may be foraminous or perforated. By the 'conduit 46 and the parts 41 and 4B, liquid condensate collecting in the trough 43 -is automatically received, conveyed, and delivered from the trough spout 45, through the openings in the drum. wa1l49, to the work in the drum I3, as the' latter revolves. When not in use, the spout or nipple 45 can be closed by means of a screw cap (not shown).

As shown in Fig. I, a liquid solvent storage reservoir or tank 50-is externally mounted on the (right-hand) end of -the vessel I0. A supply pipe 5I with a stop valve 52 interposed therein connects the top of the reservoir 5|! withthe low point of the trough 43 at the left-hand end of the vesselID, and a return pipe 53 with a stop vsolvent (which may be heated by means of the steam pipe II) .up to a level a little below the trough 43, and the work may be tumbled immersed in this liquid solvent, with the drum I3 in the position of Fig. I. In this case, the pipe 45 v may be either open or closed. If the work is but', l

Or if very thorough cleaning of fairly dirty work is required, this may be done with the purified condensed solvent from trough 43. In this case, one preferred mode ofA operation would be as follows:

The vessel I0 is filled with trichlorethylene or other volatile solvent about to the level shown` in Figs. AI and II. 'I'he solvent is heated and boiled by steam supplied to the heating device I I, and cooling water is preferably circulated through the jacket 40 to condense the solvent vapor,-which Awill thus be prevented from rising more than about mid-height of this condenser II, and, a fortiori, from overowing or escaping from the open vessel. I0. In other Words', the'condenser I I will draw and keep down the vapor level welly below the top of the open vessel I0. 'I'he pipe 45 is left open,` and the apparatus operated without any work until condensed solvent discharges freelyl from pipe 45.

The tumbling barrel or drum I3 may now be swung up, by means of the `crank wheel 22, with its.

axis I9 about vertical, and its top end presented at or above the upper edge of the vessel I0, and a ch'arge of dirty articles placed in the drum, lling it perhaps A to 1/3 full, more or less. The drum I3 is returned to its position in Fig. I, and revolved p (by the motor 35) in'this position until the Work is thoroughly cleaned by tumbling in the pure solvent'continually supplied to the drum from the condenser 40 'and trough 43; this may ordinarily require about l to 3 minutes per charge of articles to be cleaned. The drum I3 may the'n be raised higher in the vessel I0, so that liquid from the pipe will no longer fall into the trough 46, and so that liquid in the drum may drain out through the holes in the bottom 49, inside the flange 48. After revolving in this position (preferably with the drum axis' I9 nearly or about vertical) until the solvent has drained off from the work and the latter has dried off completely, the drum I3 may be-swung on up and over,

CVI

ously, or may be stopped when it is again presenting its top end at or above the edge of the vessel I 0, as far as'necessary to discharge its contents by gravity outside the vessel Il) at the left (Fig. I). The drum I3 may then be returned to charging position, and the cycle of operations may be repeated.. 'I'he motor 35 may run continuunnecessary to tumble the Work.'

If desired, of course, tumbling of the work-in contact with the solvent, or before or after treatment therewith-may be resorted to, or prolonged, in order to remove burrs, or to burnish the -may now be cleaned out,`-the drum I3 being of course swung up out of the wayto facilitate this. Then valve 54 may be opened to drain the pure solvent from reservoir 50 back into the bottom of vessel iD, valve 52 may be closed and pipe 45' opened, and any desired amount `of fresh solvent may be added to the puriedsupply in vessel I0.

Thereupon the apparatus is ready for operation as before.

Figs. III and IV illustrate somewhat different' arrangements for introducing the puried vcondensed solvent into the revolving tumbling vessel 83a, above its bottom, instead of through the latter. For this purpose, the drum I3a is shown apertured at 55 in a circular peripheral zone, and preferably provided with additional collecting or Q receiving means for liquid overflow from the tions have flanges 6I in the general plane of the frusto-conical barrel 'wall In the present instance, the portions of the bucket wall at opposite sides of the opening 55are interconnected entirely by -the vanes 56. The bucket vanes 56 automatically receive the liquid condensate collected in the trough 43a. from its spout 45a and,

as vthe drum'ISa revolves, automatically conveyv and deliver it through the drum wall openings 55 to the Work in the drum.

As shown in Fig. III, the spider I8 of Figs. I and embodies the gear 28a, and the drum bottom is clamped by bolts 63 between this disc and another disc 64 inside the drum. The arm I5a is of a simple T-section, with bearing3 la for the drumdriving shaft 30a mounted on its side adjacent the drum I3a.

As shown in Fig. IV, the drum I3a revolves counterclockwise, so that the bucket-vanes 56 II is replacedby a soliddisc I8a whose periphery rise toward the spout 45a. Pure liquid solvent.

falling into the buckets 56`from the spout 45a is delivered through the openings at 55 into the interior of the drum I3a. on the work tumbled therein. As here shown. the drum |3a is not foraminous, but solid-Walled, so that normally stands therein up to the level of overflow determined by the low point of the openings 5B, at theundersideof the revolving drum. When the drum I 3a is raised about to the llevel of the condenser 43a with its bottom horizontale-nd its hollow spindle axis I 9a vertical, solvent inside the drum can ,drain out completely through the spindle I9a (Fig.III) and the radial slots or grooves 65 in the disc 64. leading inward from the periphery of the disc to the lopening in the spindle Isa.

In Figs. III and IV, various parts and features are marked with the same reference numerals as liquid solvent the corresponding ones in Figs. I and II. as a -meansof dispensing with repetitive description distinguishing letters being added where such distinction appears necessary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. Apparatus of the character described, for tumbling and treating-objects with volatile solvent whose vapor is heavier than air, comprising in combination an air-excluding treating vessel,

for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion; an arm swingable down and up, and a tumbling barrel revolubly mounted on said arm and swinging therewith down and up into and out of the vessel; means for driving said tumbling barrel when swung down into the vessel;

means for retaining and condensing solvent vapor evolved 'in the Wessel, vand thus prevent-ingits overow therefrom; and means for delivering the condensate to' the Work in the revolving vessel,l

. sate from said trough and discharging it into the including a collecting trough on the vessel wall, and a conduit on said arm receiving the condenvessel upon the work therein.

2. Apparatus of the character described, for tumbling and treating objects' with volatile solvent whose vapor is heavier than air, comprising in combination an air-excludingl treating vessel, for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion; a supporting structure swingable down and up, and a tumbling barrel revolubly mounted on said structure and swinging therewith down and up into and out of the vessel; means for driving said tumbling barrel when swung down into the vessel; means for retaining and condensing solvent vapor evolved in the. vessel, and 'thus preventing its overnow therefrom; and means for delivering the condensate to the work in the revolving vessel, including a collecting trough on the vessel wall, and collecting means on the peripheral 4barrelwall receiving overflow from said trough and delivering into the interior of the barrel.

3. Apparatus of the character described, for tumbling and treating objects with volatile soivent whose vapor is heavier than air, comprising in combination an air-excluding treating vessel, for containing liquid solvent and its vapor', open at its upper portion; a supporting structure swingable down and up, and a tumbling barrel revolubl'y Amounted on said structure andzswinging therewithdown and up into and out of the vessel;

means for driving said tumbling barrel when in in combination an air-excluding` treating vessel,

for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion; a supporting structure swingable down and up, and a tumbling barrel revolubly mounted on said structure and swinging therewith down and up into and eut of the vessel; means for driving said tumbling barrel when in the vessel; means for retaining and condensing solvent vapor .evolved in the vessel and thus preventing its overflow therefrom; and means for delivering the condensate to the work in the revolving barrel, including a collecting trough on'the vessel'wall and conduit means carried byvsaid supporting structure receiving condensate from said trough and delivering into the barrel. l f

5. Apparatus of the character described, for tumbling and treating objects with volatile solvent whose vapor is heavier than air, comprising in combination an air-excluding treating vessel, for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion; a supporting structure swingable down and up, and a tumbling barrel revolubly mounted on said structure and swinging therewith down and up into and out of the vessel; meansfor driving said tumbling barrel whenin the vessel; means for retaining andcondensing solvent vapor evolved in the vessel and thus preventing its overnow therefrom; and means for delivering the condensate to the work in the revolving barrel, including a collecting trough on 'the vessel wall and means-carriedby said barrel receiving condensate from said tnugh and delivering the same into the barrel.

6. Apparatus of the character described, for

tumbling and treating objects with volatile'solvent whose vapor is heavier than air, comprising in combination an air-excluding treating vessel, for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion; a supporting structure swing- 7. Apparatus of the character described, for

tumbling and treating objects' with volatile seivent whose vapor is heavier; air. comprising in combination an air-excluding treating vessel, for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion; `s, supporting structure swingable about an axis down and up, and a tumbling barrel mounted and arranged on said supporting structure to revolve about an axis that is transverse tothe axis of swing and itself swings with said structure from a lower position with the 'barrel in' the vessel. where work in the barrel gravitates and tumbles against its bottom end as the barrel revolves, ugh asubstantial angle,

to an upper position where the other end o f thebarrel is presented above an edge of the vessel to discharge or receive work; and means for retain- .ing and condensing solvent vapor evolved in the vessel, and thus preventing its overiiow therefrom. I

8. Apparatus of the character described. for tumbling and treating objects with volatile solvent whose vapor is heavier than air, comprising in combination an air-excluding treating vessel, for containing liquid solvent and its vapor, open at its upper portion: a supporting structure swingable about an axis down and up. and a tumbling barrel mountedl and arranged on said supporting structure to revolve about an axis that is transverse to the axis of swing and itself swings with said structurefrom a lower position with the barrel in the vessel, where work in the barrel gravitates and tumbles against its bottom end as the barrel revolves, through a substantial angle, to an upper position where the other end of the barrel is presented above an edge of the vessel to discharge or receive work; means for retaining a'nd condensing solvent vapor evolved in the vessel` and thus preventing its overilow therefrom; means for collecting the liquid condensate, and means 4for conveying and delivering it to the work in the revolving barrel.

' CLARENCE F. DINLEY. 

